WILLEMSTAD – From April 16 to 23, climate researcher Oriana Wouters will be on Curaçao to present the latest findings of a regional climate project funded by UNESCO. Together with her team, Wouters has created the island’s first heat impact map using satellite data from 2013 to 2024, offering a localized view of how heat has intensified—and which communities are most affected.
In the coming week, Wouters and her Curaçaoan colleague Muskaan Khemani will begin conducting interviews with vulnerable groups, including the elderly, individuals with chronic illnesses, and others who face the daily consequences of prolonged heat exposure. The aim is not only to provide data for policymakers but also to highlight the personal experiences of those most impacted.
“For an island like Curaçao, just like many other small island nations, this is vital,” Wouters stated in a written message. “The challenges posed by climate change are immense, and this project offers both insight and a voice to those who are hardest hit.”
Regional Focus, Local Impact
Wouters is an experienced climate researcher who has spent years studying the social impact of climate change in the Caribbean region. She works for an international research consortium supported by UNESCO, focusing on making climate data more accessible to local communities and decision-makers. Her work emphasizes community participation and the use of satellite imagery to make climate trends visible at the local level.
Muskaan Khemani, a young researcher from Curaçao with expertise in data analysis and visual cartography, developed the island’s heat impact maps as part of the project. She plays a key role in community outreach and will lead the upcoming interviews with residents facing extreme heat conditions.
This initiative aims to bridge the gap between scientific data and lived experience, helping Curaçao build climate resilience from the ground up.